Vacant building demolished in East End

Published 8:32 pm, Wednesday, July 31, 2013

BRIDGEPORT -- The demolition of a vacant building known to attract squatters and criminals was the latest step Wednesday in a plan to bring new life to the struggling East End neighborhood.

"The East End neighborhood is a neighborhood of families. It is a neighborhood that should not have to look at buildings like this," said Mayor Bill Finch. "For five years, the city of Bridgeport has been after the owner of this property."

The white brick building at the back end of a grassy lot at 55 1/2 Revere St. has been on the city's blight list for years. It has been cleared of debris several times since 2011, the same year the city used $30,000 in demolition funds to demolish a building next door at 45 Revere St.

According to city officials, the latest demolition is just one step in a larger plan to revitalize the block bounded by Revere Street and Central, Stratford and Newfield avenues with future development.

The plan includes a partnership with an unnamed developer to someday build a mixed-use building containing residential and retail units at the site.

"There has to be a first step and this is it," said East End resident Ann-Marie Griffith, who watched the demolition with her family.